Sustainable intensification of cereal-based farming systems in Eastern and Southern Africa

Project Inception Workshop

6-9 February 2012, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania


Presentation: concept note 1 (Joseph Rusike) and 2 (Paul Kiepe)


This workshop provides an opportunity for a broad group of important stakeholders to both learn about the project plans and to share their views on expectations from and opportunities for synergies with the project (days 1 and 2) and for the core project team to finalize the project details (days 3 and 4).



Concept note 1:
  • Context: key investments in Morogoro (rice), Manyara and Dodoma (maize), Arusha, Kilima, Tanga, Zan etc.
  • Goal: increase agric productivity growth, economic growth, food production, food and nutrition security, NRM and reduce poverty in FtF / gov't / CAADP areas.
  • Objectives/outputs: a) participatory diagnosis, characterization of agro-ecologies, farming systems, land use, gender, market, research priorities ?? b) integrated options for assembling crop, agro-forestry and livestock technologies for SI c) integrated options for value chains, institutional policy innovations for SI, d) marketing/options for scaling up and out and e) capacity building.
  • ...

Concept note 2: Rice in West Africa.
  • Rice production constraints in
  • Policy support is changing;
  • Rain-fed lowlands - high potential yield achievable.
  • Cultural ceremonies should continue;
  • Land tenure conflicts: Land owner vs. tenant / native vs. immigrant, upstream vs. downstream.
  • Multi-stakeholder processes: include all stakeholders, land users (gender), land owners, policy makers, negotiate long-term lease of land (allow for investments and ensure stability);
  • Improved water management, water conservation, water harvesting.
  • Small scale mechanization (lands preparation, threshing, transport from field to farm and farm to market, milling);
  • This proposal for Tanzania: Rice is the second most important crop in Tanzania, 75% of rice is produced in rain-fed lowlands, productivity of rice is low, including vegetables will decrease undernourishment; vegetables will increase farm income.
  • Purpose of proposal: enhance productivity etc.
  • Rice sector employs 20M farmers, most of them women, and sustains 100M people.
  • Main pillars: MSP, enviro systems analysis, intensification and diversification, ???
  • Products? valley communities that resolve constraints and conflicts. Spatial model applicable at national scale to determine agric potential;
  • Conclusions: Tanzania has to step up rice production because the world market runs out; rain-fed lowlands can largely supply enough rice for Tanzania and beyond; Sufficient lowland area will remain intact for traditional and environmental uses; realization of ssound water management can make rain-fed lowlands climate proof.